33/30. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1883a — Better Than What the Sun Covers
The virtue of going out in the morning or the evening in the cause of Allah
Hadith About a Journey in Allah's Way Better Than What the Sun Rises Upon
Sahih Muslim : 1883a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1883a
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَإِسْحَاقَ - قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ حَدَّثَنَا الْمُقْرِئُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ حَدَّثَنِي شُرَحْبِيلُ بْنُ شَرِيكٍ الْمَعَافِرِيُّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحُبُلِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا أَيُّوبَ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " غَدْوَةٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَوْ رَوْحَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ وَغَرَبَتْ " .
Abu Ayyub Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: A journey undertaken in the morning or evening (for Jihad) in the way of Allah is better than (anything) on which the sun rises or sets.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1883aIn-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 173USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 20, Hadith 4643
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1883a
This hadith from Abu Ayyub gives another beautiful comparison for the reward of Jihad in the way of Allah. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that a journey in the morning or evening in Allah's way is better than anything on which the sun rises or sets. This wording is close to the phrase better than the world and what it contains, but here the image is the sun rising and setting over the earth. The lesson remains clear: a sincere journey in Allah's way has a value that surpasses worldly things. The hadith is often searched by people looking for the reward of ghodwa or rawha in Islam.
What we learn from this hadith
- A morning or evening journey in Allah's way is described as better than what the sun rises or sets upon.
- The hadith points to the great reward of sincere striving.
- The comparison helps believers see worldly things as limited.
- The narration uses clear words that center on Allah's way.
